Nick Johnson

Left-handed First Baseman

Nick is signed through 2008 at $5.5 million per season.

Johnson is an on-base machine with a superb batting eye. He's got a beautiful line-drive swing that produces lots of doubles, and he's not afraid to turn on a pitch, especially an inside one, driving it with power. He's unlikely to hit 30 homers, but his .290ish batting average combined with the doubles and his eye make him an underrated offensive performer. Even though he lacks the power of some of the big-name first baseman, he's worth just as much because of his impressive on-base percentages.

Nick is an above average defensive first baseman, even as he struggled mightily in 2006. He has decent range and quick reflexes, but made far too many errors in '06.

He's also a tremendous baserunner, even as he has average foot speed. He gets great reads on balls and rarely hesitates on his way to third.

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